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Children document their lives

MANGALORE: From growing chillies to weaving clothes, children produce nearly 40 per cent of the items we use on a daily basis. There are over 127 million child labourers in the country and over 246 million in the world.

In spite of these facts, the gravity of the problem was not fully understood, John Devaraj, director, Born Free Art School International, Bangalore, said on Thursday. He was speaking at the inauguration of the "working children photography and painting exhibition".

Students of Born Free International School have taken the photos that will be on display at St. Aloysius College till Saturday.

Mioi Nakayama, international co-ordinator, Born Free Art School International, said students were trained for a month in camera techniques before the expedition. For many children, the expedition was filled with nostalgia as they documented lives they once led. One of the students visited the factory he worked in earlier, as a part of the exercise.

The expedition also helped many children understand the political and social necessity to be able to read and write, said Ms. Nakayama.